Natchez aldermen praise first responders’ work in wake of Hurricane Delta

While several Natchez structures were crushed by fallen trees and thousands of residents lost electricity, no lives were lost in what “could’ve been an horrific experience” for the city, said Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson.

While Entergy reported more than 6,000 local customers without power this weekend, he said, all but about 15 had their electricity restored by Monday.

Delta roared through Natchez Friday and Saturday with winds reported at 50 mph or more.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the mayor and aldermen, they conducted a standing ovation for local first responders, which include workers in the city and county’s public works departments, the Natchez Police Department, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office and public utilities.

While electricity has been restored, there’s much to clean up. Fallen trees, limbs and other debris have littered the city. City Public Works Director Justin Dollar noted the city’s curbside trash collectors will not pick up residents’ yard rubbish if too large to easily grab by hand.

Gibson said he’s talked with state Department of Corrections officials about getting prison inmates to help with the city’s storm-cleanup efforts. “We’re going to do the best we can,” the mayor said.

The Board of Aldermen did declare Natchez in a state of emergency to make the city eligible for state or federal disaster-relief funds.

Natchez aldermen and the mayor commended Jennifer Ogden Combs for her accomplishments the past six years leading the city’s tourism agency and the celebration of its tricentennial. Combs resigned in September as executive director of Visit Natchez, which works to attract tourists and conventions to Natchez. She previously headed the city’s two-year efforts to plan and celebrate in 2016 the 300th anniversary of Natchez’ founding. After the tricentennial festivities, the Board of Aldermen appointed her in 2016 to take the reins of Visit Natchez governed by the Natchez Convention Promotion Commission.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the mayor and aldermen, they presented Combs with flowers and the city’s “Unity Flag,” a new banner Gibson unveiled with the city’s seal when he became mayor in July.

Combs pointed to her affection for Natchez and her vision for producing a grand celebration of its 1716 founding. While she was not planning four years ago to go on to become Visit Natchez’ executive director, Combs said she was encouraged to stay by members of the Natchez Convention Promotion Commission.

Gibson said Combs is a worthy recipient of the city’s Unity Flag. In 2011, when Combs first presented her plans for the Natchez tricentennial to city officials, she said: “My inspiration and vision for Natchez 2016 has been twofold: to unify our community and create new business opportunities by commemorating our past, celebrating our present and defining our future.”

The mayor and aldermen on Tuesday said Combs fulfilled that vision in her work for the tricentennial as well as Visit Natchez.

Combs is a Natchez native and movie producer who lived away from her hometown for 34 years until returning in 2008. She said she plans to remain in Natchez.

Visit Natchez director of sales Lynsey Smith is serving as interim executive director while city officials seek someone to appoint on a permanent basis.

City officials are also searching for a new fire chief and police chief. Ventris Green resigned as Natchez fire chief in September while Police Chief Walter Armstrong plans to depart when a replacement is appointed.

Mayor Dan Gibson said the city Civil Service Commission has narrowed the list of fire chief applicants to five candidates for aldermen to pick from. Applicants for the police chief job have until Friday to submit their resumes. The commission will winnow them down to a few before aldermen interview candidates.